The evidence on high-intensity focused ultrasound for symptomatic breast fibroadenoma raises no major safety concerns. Evidence on its efficacy is inadequate in quantity and quality. Therefore, this procedure should only be used with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent and audit or research.
Clinicians wishing to do high-intensity focused ultrasound for symptomatic breast fibroadenoma should:
Inform the clinical governance leads in their NHS trusts.
Ensure that patients understand the uncertainty about the procedure's efficacy and provide them with clear written information. In addition, the use of NICE's information for the public is recommended.
Audit and review clinical outcomes of all patients having high-intensity focused ultrasound for symptomatic breast fibroadenoma (see section 7.1).
Patients should be informed about all the alternative treatment options, which could include conservative treatment.
Further research should include publication of patient-reported outcome measures and studies with long-term follow-up.